It's still early in the J-League season, but we are learning more and more about the teams. Here is the Sanfrecce Hiroshima - Shimizu S-Pulse preview!
It's no vacation for neither Sanfrecce nor Shimizu S-Pulse as both were in action only a few days ago. Expect some tired legs on the pitch and/or possibly some changes to the lineups.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima form and stats
OK but not perfect. That could be the conclusion for Sanfrecce Hiroshima's two home games in the J-League so far this season, having collected 4 points here at EDION Stadium.
An away draw last time out for Sanfrecce, facing Kashima Antlers in a game that ended 1-1. Ahead of that match, Sanfrecce Hiroshima won a home game hosting Consadole Sapporo (2-1).
The hosts are modest favourites in this match, with the bookmakers estimating the chance of a home win at about 50% +- five percent. It's interesting to look at how Sanfrecce have performed under similar circumstances, so here are some numbers: When modest favourites like this (we found 16 games) they have won three times, drawn eight and lost five.
There will be little rest for Sanfrecce Hiroshima after this match as they are travelling to Oita Trinita for a J-League game in only four days.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima has scored 3 goals so far and conceded 2 goals from 2 home games. These are numbers from the league only.
Shimizu S-Pulse form and stats
Shimizu S-Pulse are doing rather OK so far in their away games in the J-League, having played 2 games and collected 3 points (1 win, 0 draws and 1 loss).
There were no winners in Shimizu S-Pulse's previous match, a J-League home game that ended 0-0 vs Sagan Tosu (placed 3rd). A 1-2 defeat away at Cerezo Osaka before that.
We have checked recent matches where Shimizu have had similar odds to win. Win-draw-lose statistics from those nine games were one victory, two draws and six defeats.
Shimizu has another fixture away, a J-League game, against Kashiwa Reysol in just four days. A tough schedule for the visitors!
As for goals scored and conceded in the league games away so far, Shimizu S-Pulse has managed 4 goals and let in 3 from 2 matches.
Head 2 Head
Head-to-head totals (for the last ten meetings): Sanfrecce won six games, two matches ended with a draw and Shimizu S-Pulse has two wins. Over 2,5 goals / under 2,5 goals: five / fiveTop Goalscorers
  J. dos Santos Junior 2 goals |   K. Nakayama 2 goals | Y. Asano 1 goals |
Sanfrecce Hiroshima missing players
Shimizu S-Pulse missing players
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Shimizu S-Pulse | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 4 | 2 | 0 | Played | P | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | Won | W | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | Drew | D | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Lost | L | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | 3 | 0 | Scored | S | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| 6 | 2 | 0 | Conceded | C | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 100% | 100% | 0% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | 75% |
| 100% | 100% | 0% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 100% | 100% | 75% |
| 50% | 50% | 0% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 100% | 100% | 75% |
| 25% | 0% | 0% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 100% | 50% | 50% |
| 25% | 0% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| 100% | 100% | 0% | BTTS | BTTS | 100% | 100% | 75% |
| 0% | 0% | 0% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 0% | 25% |
| 0% | 0% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 0% | 0% | 25% |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0.3 | 0.5 | 0 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 0 | 0 | 0.2 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | 12 | 0 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 5 | 8 | 6.2 |
| 5 | 5.5 | 0 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 2 | 3 | 2.5 |
| 27% | 27% | 0% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 150% | 67% | 60% |
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Last season | Shimizu S-Pulse | |||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 34 | 17 | Played | P | 17 | 34 | ||
| 13 | 7 | Won | W | 3 | 7 | ||
| 9 | 5 | Drew | D | 4 | 7 | ||
| 12 | 5 | Lost | L | 10 | 20 | ||
| 46 | 29 | Scored | S | 16 | 48 | ||
| 37 | 20 | Conceded | C | 35 | 70 | ||
| 94% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 88% | 94% | ||
| 71% | 88% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 88% | 94% | ||
| 41% | 59% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 59% | 74% | ||
| 21% | 24% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 41% | 50% | ||
| 12% | 12% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 18% | 24% | ||
| 47% | 65% | BTTS | BTTS | 53% | 76% | ||
| 32% | 24% | Clean Sheets | C S | 24% | 12% | ||
| 26% | 12% | Failed to Score | F T | 35% | 18% | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | ||
| 0.8 | 0.6 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.2 | 1.2 | ||
| 1 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 1 | 1 | ||
| 11.4 | 12 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 9.6 | 11.1 | ||
| 4.3 | 4.9 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 3.4 | 4.2 | ||
| 32% | 35% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 28% | 33% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Kawasaki Frontale | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 15 |
| 2 | Nagoya Grampus | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 12 |
| 3 | Sagan Tosu | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 9 |
| 4 | Cerezo Osaka | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 9 |
| 5 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| 6 | Vissel Kobe | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| 7 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| 8 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 9 | Oita Trinita | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 10 | Tokyo | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 11 | Kashima Antlers | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 12 | Avispa Fukuoka | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | -2 | 4 |
| 13 | Urawa Reds | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -3 | 4 |
| 14 | Consadole Sapporo | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| 15 | Shonan Bellmare | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -2 | 3 |
| 16 | Kashiwa Reysol | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 3 |
| 17 | Tokushima Vortis | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -3 | 2 |
| 18 | Vegalta Sendai | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 | -11 | 1 |
| 19 | Gamba Osaka | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 20 | Yokohama | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | -10 | 0 |
| Last season | Total | Home | Away | ||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Kawasaki Frontale | 34 | 26 | 5 | 3 | 88 | 31 | 17 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 48 | 15 | 17 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 40 | 16 | 57 | 83 |
| 2 | Gamba Osaka | 34 | 20 | 5 | 9 | 46 | 42 | 17 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 19 | 23 | 17 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 27 | 19 | 4 | 65 |
| 3 | Nagoya Grampus | 34 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 45 | 28 | 17 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 28 | 12 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 63 |
| 4 | Cerezo Osaka | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 46 | 37 | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 13 | 17 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 26 | 24 | 9 | 60 |
| 5 | Kashima Antlers | 34 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 55 | 44 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 27 | 22 | 17 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 28 | 22 | 11 | 59 |
| 6 | Tokyo | 34 | 17 | 6 | 11 | 47 | 42 | 17 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 23 | 22 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 20 | 5 | 57 |
| 7 | Kashiwa Reysol | 34 | 15 | 7 | 12 | 60 | 46 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 30 | 30 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 30 | 16 | 14 | 52 |
| 8 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 34 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 46 | 37 | 17 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 29 | 20 | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 17 | 9 | 48 |
| 9 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 34 | 14 | 5 | 15 | 69 | 59 | 17 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 42 | 26 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 27 | 33 | 10 | 47 |
| 10 | Urawa Reds | 34 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 43 | 56 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 22 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 25 | 34 | -13 | 46 |
| 11 | Oita Trinita | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 36 | 45 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 24 | 26 | -9 | 43 |
| 12 | Consadole Sapporo | 34 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 47 | 58 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 27 | 29 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 20 | 29 | -11 | 39 |
| 13 | Sagan Tosu | 34 | 7 | 15 | 12 | 37 | 43 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 20 | 23 | -6 | 36 |
| 14 | Vissel Kobe | 34 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 50 | 59 | 17 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 30 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 25 | 29 | -9 | 36 |
| 15 | Yokohama | 34 | 9 | 6 | 19 | 38 | 60 | 17 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 22 | 32 | 17 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 28 | -22 | 33 |
| 16 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 34 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 48 | 70 | 17 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 32 | 35 | 17 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 35 | -22 | 28 |
| 17 | Vegalta Sendai | 34 | 6 | 10 | 18 | 36 | 61 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 32 | 17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 22 | 29 | -25 | 28 |
| 18 | Shonan Bellmare | 34 | 6 | 9 | 19 | 29 | 48 | 17 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 19 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 17 | 29 | -19 | 27 |